Swiss precision meets Indian growth market: Seraina Invest opens doors for institutional investors
How Swiss pension funds are benefiting from the real estate boom in India - our Chairman of the Board of Directors, Ajay Sirohi, in conversation with Markus Hill (independent asset management consultant in Frankfurt am Main).
When you think of Swiss real estate funds, solid returns, regulatory security and high-quality properties usually come to mind. But our example shows that these strengths can also be successfully deployed in one of the world's most dynamic real estate markets - India.
In an interview with IPE D.A.CH, Ajay Sirohi, Chairman and co-founder of Seraina Invest, provides insights into the challenges and opportunities that arise for Swiss asset managers in the Indian market - and why institutional investors in particular can benefit from them.
Building a bridge between Zurich and Mumbai
Ajay Sirohi brings with him an exceptional combination of local market knowledge and international management experience. Having grown up in India, his career took him through international corporations to the top of the renowned Steiner AG in Switzerland. There he laid the foundations for Seraina Invest - initially focusing on Swiss real estate projects for pension funds. Today, he also accompanies investments in India with the company - professionally, regulated and tailored to the needs of institutional investors.
The challenge of India: quality as a differentiator
"The challenge for a Swiss real estate fund in India is to differentiate itself from local real estate developers in terms of product design, quality and delivery," explains Sirohi. In recent years, the Indian real estate market has become much more professional - particularly due to regulatory innovations such as RERA, which have significantly increased transparency and investment protection.
This creates new opportunities, particularly in metropolitan areas such as Mumbai: foreign funds find it easier to access high-quality projects and are given clear exit strategies - an aspect of investments in emerging markets that has often been underestimated to date.
Seraina Invest: A Swiss brand with a global perspective
Seraina Invest brings a decisive advantage to this environment: Swiss brand value. Quality, reliability and a high standard of compliance ensure that the company can clearly position itself in India - both with investors and local project partners. The demand for high-class residential projects with an international flair is there - especially among wealthy Indian clients who are looking for a "different" living experience.
India Real Estate Opportunity Fund: Targeted investment - professionally secured
Launched in 2019, the India Real Estate Opportunity Fund (RAIF, LUX SICAV) is the centerpiece of Seraina Invest's commitment to India. The fund is explicitly aimed at institutional investors from Switzerland and is supported by renowned partners such as Waystone (AIFM) and APEX GROUP (custodian bank).
The portfolio currently comprises three promising projects in Mumbai, with assets under management of around USD 80 million. The target return is 15% p.a. in US dollars - whereby the currency risk against the Indian rupee is fully hedged. In 2024, the fund achieved a performance of 13.5%. In addition, an impressive project pipeline worth USD 700 million is in the final review phase.
Conclusion: With Swiss DNA into a growing future market
The example of Seraina Invest shows: With foresight, cultural understanding and a clear strategic focus, Swiss asset managers can also operate successfully in markets such as India. For pension funds looking for high-yield alternatives in a structured environment, the India Real Estate Opportunity Fund offers a convincing option - professionally managed, transparently structured and with a genuine Swiss signature.
About the author:
Markus Hill is an independent asset management consultant and author of numerous specialist articles on institutional investment topics in Germany, Austria and Switzerland.